294 G. B. Goode—Preliminary Catalogue of the Reptiles, 
will indicate my suspicion that, upon comparison of the speci- 
mens, the two species may prove to be identical. 
The fish is quite small, rarely exceeding three inches in 
length, and is very abundant among the outer reefs, swimming 
among the Gorgonias and Plexauras, six or eight fathoms 
below the surface, a very conspicuous object by reason of its 
brilliant yellow colors. It is extremely shy and it was only 
after repeated trials that I succeeded in capturing a single 
specimen, which took a small hook baited for chubs. 
The diagnostic characters which separate Julis nitida from 
Julis nitidissima appear to consist in (1) the relative proportions 
of head and body, (2) the relative proportions of pectorals and 
ventral fins, (8) the number of rows of scales below lateral line, 
and (4) in the coloration. The latter character is, however, of 
minor importance, it being quite possible that a faded museum 
yc of the fish before me might have assumed the colors 
escri 
